Finding out about a Military Medal
Finding out about a Military Medal
Author
Discussion

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
My grandfather won the Military Medal during WWII and I'd love to find out how he did it.

Initial googling hasn't got my hopes up so I hope the great and the good of PH can help?

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
The National Archives in Kew should be able to help as Medal Index Cards were all scanned and are available to view digitally

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/recomme...



Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 12th August 13:48

Phud

1,478 posts

172 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
If you know his name and regiment, rank as well, you can try the regiments or the army museum.

First stop is as above, the archives.

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks all. I'll get as much detail as I can from mum.

We've heard he rescued a downed pilot from his plane whilst under fire but would love to verify this.

Dog Chops

81 posts

225 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
MM awards are often in the London Gazette - search here : http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/LondonGazett...

Jasandjules

72,583 posts

258 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
phil_cardiff said:
Thanks all. I'll get as much detail as I can from mum.

We've heard he rescued a downed pilot from his plane whilst under fire but would love to verify this.
To get an MM he has to have done something rather brave.

Jayessgee

199 posts

156 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
To get an MM he has to have done something rather brave.
Quite. Keep us posted please OP.

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
I promise I will update but it'll take a while.

TheExcession

11,669 posts

279 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Good thread.

I think we've got one behind us, I'll forward this thread to the family and see if we can help you out.


Coco H

4,237 posts

266 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
My grandfather won the MC, I am sure google helped me find out some basic details from London Gazette but not much. Having said that I think MC's are quite common.

TheExcession

11,669 posts

279 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
A family members has got in touch, he said

"The best way to find details is to know his grandfathers Regiment and military number. With these 2 pieces of information you can approach the Regimental Headquarters and museum. They will have all the information necessary.

If he's unsure about his Grandfathers military number, it will be engraved around the edge of the medal itself."

Does that help at all?

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
TheExcession said:
A family members has got in touch, he said

"The best way to find details is to know his grandfathers Regiment and military number. With these 2 pieces of information you can approach the Regimental Headquarters and museum. They will have all the information necessary.

If he's unsure about his Grandfathers military number, it will be engraved around the edge of the medal itself."

Does that help at all?
That's great, thanks. We have the letter that came with the medal so should have all the necessary info.

Don't suppose anyone knows a good place to get it re-ribbonned (if that's word! )? It's been put kn a chain by my grandmother.

TheExcession

11,669 posts

279 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
phil_cardiff said:
That's great, thanks. We have the letter that came with the medal so should have all the necessary info.
Please come back and let us know how you get on,

Could you post up a transcript of the letter you have?

We have a copy of a letter sent home by our Grandfather, sent home from front line, if anyone would like to read it I'll post it again.

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
TheExcession said:
phil_cardiff said:
That's great, thanks. We have the letter that came with the medal so should have all the necessary info.
Please come back and let us know how you get on,

Could you post up a transcript of the letter you have?

We have a copy of a letter sent home by our Grandfather, sent home from front line, if anyone would like to read it I'll post it again.
I will let you know how I get on. I'd love to read the letter from your grandfather so please do post a transcript.

Morf

215 posts

199 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
I went through this recently to get my deceased father's war medal.

I'm not sure how much of the background information you have (regiment, rank, serial number etc). If you're lacking these basics then the MOD Records office can help:

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-...

With just the basics of name and date of birth (*see below) they can pull his full service records and send you a copy. This will probably include medal citations and so on.

If that doesn't tell you enough, I think the MOD medals office will then be able to help. This is the information for requesting a medal, but I think they'd handle an enquiry such as this as well:

https://www.gov.uk/the-ministry-of-defence-medal-o...

As others have said, the MM is a significant award, see:

https://www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns-descriptions-a...

(*) Finally, if you haven't got his exact date of birth then if you know information about name, place of birth, parents names etc you'll have a good chance of tracking down his DoB from the online Civil Registers at:

http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

HTH. Good luck!

ETA - re-ribboning, I'd start by asking the MOD medals office if they can provide a new ribbon.

Edited by Morf on Friday 15th August 14:28

Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

213 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
phil_cardiff said:
Don't suppose anyone knows a good place to get it re-ribbonned (if that's word! )?
There are a number of Companies that will supply the ribbon and mount the medal for you (whether 'normal' mount or 'Court' mount):


Spink:
https://www.spink.com/departments.aspx?id=1206

Bigbury Mint:
http://www.bigburymint.com/medal-mounting-options/

Award Medals:
http://www.awardmedals.com/medal-mounting-c-282_64...

Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Friday 15th August 19:22

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for all of your help everyone, really useful and saved me a load of time.

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Well mum brought the medal to mine today, along with 2 others that I don't recognise. I have his serial number, regiment and I think rank (sjt) and a choice of 2 d.o.b. Sadly it appears that the first page of the MM letter is missing.

I will get researching as soon as I can.

phil_cardiff

Original Poster:

8,550 posts

237 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Forgot to add that in the box was some paperwork that indicates he was a POW for 3 years too.

I wish I could have met this man and told him of my pride that he is my grandfather.

TVR1

5,478 posts

254 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
OP, if it's of any help, I live within spitting distance of KRO. I'd be happy to spend an hour or two there on my next day off (Monday) if you care to PM me with the information that you have.